Welcoming a new baby into your family is an unforgettable experience. Those first few weeks? A beautiful, messy blur of sleepless nights, endless snuggles, and tiny fingers curling around yours. And yet, many families hesitate when it comes to booking a newborn photography session. If you’re on the fence, here are six completely silly reasons to delay documenting this fleeting season of life—and why they don’t actually hold up.

Parents share an intimate moment with their sleeping newborn baby in dim lighting, creating a tender family scene.
A silhouetted couple stands intimately in a doorway arch as dramatic lighting filters through a hallway.
A couple shares a joyful moment together with their newborn baby in an intimate indoor setting.

1. "We Need to Wait Until We’re Well-Rested"

Spoiler alert: That day isn’t coming anytime soon. Newborn life is full of late-night feeds and early-morning cuddles. The good news? Those tired, love-filled moments make for the most honest and heartwarming images. Your photos should tell the real story of your family, and that story includes sleepy snuggles and bedhead.

A family shares a tender moment together while relaxing on their wooden bed at home.

2. "Our House is a Disaster"

Of course it is—you just brought a human into the world! But guess what? Newborn photography isn’t about spotless homes. It’s about the love that fills them. A cozy corner, a sunlit window, or a messy bed where you all pile in for snuggles? Perfect. No need for perfection—just real life, beautifully preserved. I put off newborn photos with my first child because we were in the middle of a remodel and my husband was busy taping and mudding the walls in those early days. Now I wish I had high quality photos of that super short phase so bad that it inspires me to document it for others.

Family sitting on carpet playing with toys and infant baby in living room near crib.

3. "We Need to Lose the Baby Weight First"

Your body just did something incredible. It grew and delivered a whole person! You are enough exactly as you are. Your baby isn’t looking for perfection—they just want to be close to you. And years from now, they’ll love seeing the way you held them, kissed them, and gazed at them with overwhelming love. And some day you too will be able to look past your changed body and just see that new relationship and love in it's earliest moments.

Infant wearing mint green outfit lies on floral patterned blanket while someone gently touches their head.

4. "The Baby’s Skin is Peeling (or Red, or Blotchy)"

Newborn skin does weird things, and that’s totally normal! Flaky skin, baby acne, or a little redness? It all fades. What lasts forever is the way they fit so perfectly in your arms, the way their tiny toes curl up, and the way they instinctively turn their head toward your voice.

Happy couple lying on bed together while gently touching their baby in tender loving moment at home.

5. "We’re Not Good in Front of the Camera"

Good news—you don’t need to be! Lifestyle newborn photography isn’t about stiff poses or perfect smiles. It’s about the way you rock your baby, the way your partner brushes a thumb over those impossibly small fingers, and the quiet love in your everyday moments. You don’t have to perform—just be together. Grab a cup of coffee (you know you'll need it!) and snuggle up to each other and I'll just chat and put you at ease while you have dedicated time to let go of the guilt of feeling like you should be doing something else.

A couple shares a tender moment with their newborn baby near a window in natural light.

6. "We’ll Just Take Photos Ourselves"

Of course, take all the iPhone pictures you can! But also, consider this: When was the last time you were in the frame? A professional session allows you to be present in your family’s story rather than just the one documenting it. It ensures you have images that aren’t just snapshots, but true keepsakes of this fleeting, magical stage. And even if you do manage to get in the frame often, how natural and varied are your expressions and how deep is your connection in the moment? Even the best photographers often hire another photographer to take their family photos in order to truly relax and be documented in the moment with their people.

People gathered in a cozy kitchen with a dog, sharing a moment of daily life near windows and wooden furniture.
Family resting together on bed in cozy white bedroom with natural lighting.
Happy family spending quality time together while sitting on stairs with a young child in blue and an infant in floral attire.

So, What’s the Real Reason to Document Now?

Because this season is brief. The newborn stretch is a blink-and-you-miss-it kind of time, and you deserve to have it preserved in a way that feels honest and meaningful. So embrace the chaos, the tired eyes, the messy home—and let’s document the love that makes it all so incredibly worth it.